The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted two weeks to the Federation to issue schedule for holding Population Census in the country, due since 1998. Resuming the hearing of a suo motu notice about inordinate delay in Population Census, a three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that the court has to grant more time in the matter for saving face in order to dispel an impression that court was merely paying lip service.
Appearing before the bench, Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf submitted that he is ready to brief the bench through presentation in the court or in the chamber over the issue. Earlier, a three-member bench of Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had issued directives to Chief Census Commissioner of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) Asif Bajwa to brief the court through presentation over the government steps for holding much awaited population census.
However, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali plainly remarked that the presentation or paper work would not be solution of the problem saying it has nothing to do with the wisdom even if two trucks loaded with papers work is produced before the court instead of tangible progress in the matter.
The chief justice said the Population Census is due since 1998 and it is merely a pretext that Army personnel were not available for holding the census. Citing a letter of the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to the federal government about census through which the Army Chief had asked the authorities concerned to cancel all illegally issued Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to Afghan refugees before conducting the population census in the country, the chief justice observed nothing has been mentioned in Army letter about any delay.
He further observed there is no logistical and legal requirement that Army Personnel should be present in the process of census, adding nothing has been described anywhere that the census should be conducted in a single day. Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali reiterated that without the census it would not be possible to start delimitation process in constituencies of the provincial and national assemblies saying absence of population census will have negative impacts on individuals as well as on democratic system.
The chief justice remarked that how the next general election would be possible without population census to which the AGP said without any malicious intent it's the earnest desire of the government to hold the census in the country. Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed not only malicious intent but the ill motives of status quo beneficiary are also visible saying the incumbent government has completed its three and half years tenure but the population census has not been carried out.
The AGP submitted during March next year the census would be done in the country, and the result of which would be compiled in 15 or 30 days after holding the Population Census for which funds had been allocated in 2016. Ashtar Ausaf said, "I categorically made the statement with full responsibility about the population census that it would be good for system and future of Pakistan".
After a brief hearing of the matter, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said while dictating the order, " The AGP tried to impress circumstances which are not in the control of the government but we are not impressed with his contentions - come up with date for holding the census after two week.